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Major · Health Professions

The degree behind operating MRI scanners in clinical practice

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology prepares students to operate MRI scanners, position patients, and produce diagnostic images of vascular and soft-tissue structures used by physicians for diagnosis. About 801 degrees are awarded annually across 31 colleges, almost entirely at the associate’s level, with a defined credentialing path through ARRT or ARMRIT.

Schools offering
31
Annual completions
801
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$67k

About this major

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology prepares students to operate MRI scanners — high-field magnets that produce detailed cross-sectional images of soft tissue, vasculature, and the central nervous system without ionizing radiation. The CIP definition expects incoming students to already hold AART certification as radiologic technicians, and most accredited associate’s programs are structured as MRI specialty layers built on a radiography foundation. Coursework covers MRI physics, sectional anatomy, pathology, pulse sequences, contrast safety, magnet-room safety protocols, and supervised clinical scanning across neurological, musculoskeletal, abdominal, and cardiac imaging. Programs accredited by JRCERT are the standard pathway to ARRT-MRI eligibility, and the credential matters: many states require an ARRT or equivalent credential to practice.

The major sits at the associate’s and bachelor’s level, but completions skew almost entirely toward two-year programs. About 801 degrees are awarded annually across 31 colleges — a small allied-health pipeline by volume, since most students enter via radiography first and pick up MRI through post-primary certification rather than a dedicated MRI major. The top schools by completions cluster heavily in California and tilt toward career-focused institutions: Smith Chason College in Los Angeles leads with 149 completions, followed by CBD College (133), Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Jose (128), Career Networks Institute in Santa Ana (119), and Casa Loma College (71). MCPHS University in Boston is the rare bachelor’s-only feeder on this list. The career-college concentration matters when evaluating programs, because ARRT pass rates, clinical-site quality, and state-licensure outcomes vary across the sector.

The primary career destination is magnetic resonance imaging technologist at an $88,180 median wage with 7.1% projected job growth, placing MRI among the better-paying associate’s-degree health roles. The work is hospital-based or outpatient-clinic-based, hands-on with patients and equipment throughout the shift, not a laboratory or office role.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $106k +17.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Magnetic resonance imaging technologists $88k +7.1% Associate's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$67k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$65k

Bachelor's

$71k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to the technical side of medical imaging and specifically want a modality with no ionizing radiation, if you are comfortable working in fast-moving clinical environments where patient screening for metallic implants and claustrophobia is a daily judgment call, if the idea of operating high-field magnets and selecting pulse sequences on the fly to answer specific clinical questions appeals to you, if a defined two-year credential pathway with a clear $88,180-median destination matches your career timeline, and if you accept that most accredited programs assume a radiography foundation first and route you through ARRT-R before adding MRI as a post-primary credential.

Think twice if you are choosing between MRI, Radiologic Technology, Sonography, and Cardiovascular Technology based on general imaging interest without clarity on which modality you want to live inside — the licensed roles are genuinely different and the training is not interchangeable. Reconsider if you are enrolling at one of the high-volume California career colleges topping the completions list without checking the program’s JRCERT accreditation status, ARRT pass rate, and clinical placement record, since the credential gateway here is unforgiving and outcomes vary widely within the sector. The bachelor’s also deserves scrutiny if your motivation is entry-level pay — the five-year gap between associate’s and bachelor’s completers is about $5,400, which is modest relative to two extra years of tuition and deferred income. The bachelor’s makes more sense when lead-tech, supervisory, or imaging-informatics advancement is a concrete goal.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/Technician

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Smith Chason College Los Angeles, CA 149 0 149
CBD College Los Angeles, CA 133 0 133
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts San Jose, CA 128 0 128
Career Networks Institute Santa Ana, CA 119 0 119
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles Sherman Oaks, CA 71 0 71
Med College Hialeah, FL 37 0 37
National Polytechnic College Lakewood, CA 28 0 28
Midwestern Career College Chicago, IL 23 0 23
Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH 18 0 18
MCPHS University Boston, MA 0 16 16
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer

9,572 completions/yr

Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

6,344 completions/yr

Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician

5,766 completions/yr

Surgical Technology/Technologist

5,490 completions/yr

Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)

3,988 completions/yr

Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist

3,612 completions/yr

Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist

1,133 completions/yr

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other

869 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do MRI Technology majors actually study day-to-day?
Coursework moves between MRI physics, sectional anatomy, pathology, scanner operation, patient safety in strong magnetic fields, contrast administration, and pulse-sequence selection across body regions. Clinical rotations in hospital and outpatient imaging departments run alongside lecture work — students log supervised scan hours on real patients well before graduation. The CIP definition assumes incoming students are already AART-certified radiologic technicians, which mirrors how most accredited programs are structured: a radiography foundation first, then an MRI specialty layer on top.
Do I need a bachelor’s, or is an associate’s enough to become an MRI tech?
An associate’s degree is the standard entry credential. BLS lists an associate’s as the typical education for MRI technologists, and the occupation pays an $88,180 median wage regardless of degree level. Five-year earnings data shows associate’s completers at about $65,449 and bachelor’s completers at about $70,854 — a gap of roughly $5,400. The bachelor’s can support advancement into lead-tech, supervisory, or imaging-informatics roles, but it is not required to enter the field. The four-year option is functionally overkill for the entry job.
What kinds of jobs do MRI Technology graduates end up in?
The direct destination is magnetic resonance imaging technologist, with an $88,180 median wage and 7.1% projected job growth. Most graduates work in hospital radiology departments, outpatient imaging centers, mobile MRI services, and orthopedic or neurology practices. The data packet also lists health specialties teaching at the postsecondary level ($105,620 median, 17.3% growth), but that path requires a doctoral or professional degree well beyond this program. For the overwhelming majority of graduates, the realistic job is clinical MRI tech.
How does credentialing actually work after this program?
Two main credentials matter: ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) MRI certification, and ARMRIT (American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). The most common path is ARRT-R primary certification in radiography first, followed by adding MRI as a post-primary credential. Most accredited associate’s programs are designed around this sequence and are JRCERT-accredited. State licensure rules vary — many states require an ARRT or equivalent credential to practice, so accreditation status of the program is a gating factor in your eligibility.
Is MRI Technology the right fit, or should I look at related imaging programs?
MRI is one specific imaging modality. If general X-ray and CT interest you more, Radiologic Technology produces about 9,572 completions a year and leads to a distinct ARRT-R role. Diagnostic Medical Sonography (5,766 completions, $89,340 median) covers ultrasound. Medical Radiologic Technology / Radiation Therapist (3,612 completions) trains for therapy delivery rather than diagnostic imaging, and Cardiovascular Technology (1,133 completions) focuses on cardiac and vascular work. These lead to genuinely different licensed roles — pick based on the modality and clinical workflow you actually want.
What is a realistic earnings picture after an MRI Technology degree?
Five-year median earnings for this major run about $67,139, with associate’s completers at about $65,449 and bachelor’s completers at $70,854. The MRI technologist occupation itself posts an $88,180 median — the gap between the five-year figure and the occupation median reflects graduates still early in their careers at that measurement point. Senior MRI techs and lead techs typically reach $90,000 to $100,000, with chief techs and PACS or imaging-informatics specialists earning above that range. Among associate’s-degree health roles, MRI sits in the upper tier on wages.